St Andrew's Church, Chew Stoke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church
General information
Town or city	Chew Stoke
Country	England
Coordinates	51°21′03″N 2°38′18″W / 51.3507°N 2.6383°W / 51.3507; -2.6383
Completed	15th century

St Andrew's Church is a Church of England church. It is located just outside the village of Chew Stoke in Somerset, England. Parts of this old stone church were built in the 1400s. It is a special building called a Grade II* listed building. This means it is very important and protected.

The church has a tall tower with six bells. Three of these bells were made by the local Bilbie family. There is also an old bell inside the church. It is a memorial to the Bilbie family. The inside of the church looks mostly Victorian. It has 156 angels carved from wood and stone. Outside, the churchyard has graves and memorials. It also has the base of a cross from the 1300s. Another old cross was moved here from Moreton. This happened in the 1950s when Chew Valley Lake was built. Its original home was flooded.

The church is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Two old houses, called rectories, are linked to the church. One was built in 1529. Both are now private homes.

Church Design and History

The church was built in the 1400s. It was made in a style called perpendicular style. The tower still looks much like it did back then. However, the main part of the church was changed a lot in 1862. A new section, called the north aisle, was added then.

The church is built from local red sandstone and limestone. Its roofs are covered with lead. Inside, it has a main area called a nave. It also has a north aisle and a south aisle. There is a special area for the altar called the chancel. There is also a small south chapel.

The tower was built around 1475. It has three levels and strong supports called buttresses. The top of the tower has a fancy edge. It also has a decorative crown with a small spire. This spire is above the stair turret. The church was named a Grade II* listed building in 1960.

Church Bells

The oldest bell in the tower is from 1698. It was made by the Bilbie family. They were famous bell makers and clockmakers from the village. The Bilbie family made over 1,350 bells. These bells are in churches all over the West Country.

They likely got the tin and copper for their bells from places like Kelston and Bristol. The metal was melted in a wood-burning furnace. It got hotter than 1,500 degrees Celsius! Then, it was poured into a special mold. This mold was made from clay from the River Chew. Other bells in St Andrew's made by the Bilbies are from 1718 and 1731.

The bells were fixed and re-hung in 1908. They were done again in 1996. A new bell from John Taylor's foundry in Loughborough replaced the smallest bell. An old bell that is no longer used is now on display. It is at the back of the church as a memorial to the Bilbie family.

Inside the Church

The Bilbie Bell at the back of the church

The Victorian font (for baptisms) and pulpit (where sermons are given) match. They are mostly painted white now. Just inside the church door, on the left, is a stone figure. It holds an anchor. This figure was moved to the church when Chew Valley Lake was flooded. It came from Walley Court. There's a story that Queen Elizabeth I gave it to the Gilbert family. It might have come from a nunnery that was closed in 1536.

A stone sculpture of a female figure holding an anchor, in the porch

The inside of the church has 156 angels. They are made of wood and stone. There is also a bronze plaque. It remembers the eleven people from the village who died in World War I. It also lists six people who died in World War II.

One stained glass window shows a saint with a sword. The saint is standing on a snake. This window also has crossed flags. It remembers those from World War II. Other stained glass windows are from the Victorian era. The window in the tower was given by a goldsmith from London. It celebrates the church being rebuilt in 1863. The window at the east end shows parts of the life of Saint Andrew.

One of the altars used to be dedicated to Wilgefortis. She is a female saint from old stories. Her special feature is a large beard!

There are three wooden chests in the church. Two are from the 1900s. The oldest one is probably from the 1500s. It was called a "poor man's chest." These chests were common in English churches. Queen Elizabeth I said that each church should have a strong chest. It needed three keys. This was to keep money safe for people in need.

Churchyard Memorials

The Moreton Cross was rebuilt and moved into the churchyard. This happened when Chew Valley Lake was flooded in the 1950s.

The base of a cross shaft in the churchyard is also a Grade II* listed building. It is about 24 meters southwest of the tower. People think it is from the 1300s. The Webb monument in the churchyard is also from that time. The churchyard gate has a lamp. This lamp was paid for by local people. It celebrates Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1897. This gate is also a Grade II listed structure.

The churchyard also has a grave for a Royal Air Force airman. He died in the Second World War. This grave is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The Old Rectory

The Old Rectory, south front with carvings of shields

The village hall is at the end of Church Lane. Across from it is The Rectory. It is believed that Sir John Barry built this house in 1529. He was the rector (church leader) from 1524 to 1546. The house has been changed many times. A clock tower was added for Rev. W. P. Wait, but it has since been removed. More changes were made around 1876 for Rev. J. Ellershaw.

The south side of the building is very fancy. It has carvings of shields. These shields show the family symbols of the St Loe family. They used to own a lot of land in the area. This house is also a Grade II* listed building. In 1945, it became the rectory for the church again. The church is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The rectory was sold by the church in 2008. It is now a private home.

The New Rectory

The new rectory

The new rectory was built in the 1870s. Reverend John Ellershaw built it. The last rector to live there was Lionel St. Clair Waldy. He lived there from 1907 to 1945. After him, Douglas Wills bought the house. He gave it and the land to Winford Hospital. It became a convalescent home for 16 children. Later, it was used as a home for nurses. Then, it was sold for private use.

Winford Hospital was mainly for bone problems. It was built in 1930. During World War II, it became a hospital for both soldiers and civilians. The hospital closed in 1996. The rectory is now divided into several homes.

See also

• List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells